The quarry’s executive director, Patrick Loh, said blasting had last taken place on Oct 9, a whole 12 days before the landslide which killed 11 people and injured three others.
Loh, who has been with the quarry company since the 1980s, also dismissed rumours linking the work at the quarry with the landslide.
He said the affordable housing project, which is the site of the landslide, was located 700 metres away from the quarry, while another premise, a college, was nearer, being just 400-500 metres from the quarry.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with us. Let the track record speak for itself. TAR College is there, and it is even closer to our quarry. The college has been in existence since 1999. We had no problems with the college.
“While, we are fully aware of the rumours in the public domain, we think what caused such perception is partly politics. That is, questions are being raised as to why the project was approved so near the quarry.
“People like to sensationalise news. They try to find a scapegoat. I believe this is the case. We really don’t see how we are connected to this landslide,” Loh told the inquiry today.
He added that the quarry, which has been around since the 1960s, was subjected to strict compliance with various authorities, and they have obtained the necessary approvals since the quarry was established.
Compliance monitoring every three months
According to Loh, such approvals included licences for blasting purposes, which is issued by the police as well as the mineral and geoscience department.
“We have the approval from the land office and the state authorities to operate the quarry. We also have an environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval, and from an environmental point of view we have to undertake compliance monitoring every three months.
“As for blasting, we need police approval. We also have to comply with the mineral and geoscience department. After every blast we have to submit the results. They have a record of our blasting,” he said.
In terms of the permitted blasting, Loh said the level of vibrations set is below 5mm/second, and their readings are usually monitored from the nearest point, or even the affordable housing project.
“Aside from the project, another monitoring point we use is the low-cost housing across the road.
“Our readings show that it is below 5, which is well within control,” he said, adding that the quarry’s blasting design is to minimise vibrations, and any reading above 5mm/second would be of concern.
To a question from SCI chairman Yeo Yang Poh on how often they checked the readings, Loh said monitoring is done whenever a blast is carried out.
To a question by conducting officer N Mureli on whether the Department of Environment (DoE) had visited the quarry, in relation to the affordable housing project, Loh said yes, adding that it took place sometime in 2016 when the department director came to visit.
In concluding his testimony today, Loh said he didn’t see a need to respond to various rumours and allegations.
“There are people with hidden agenda. I think we should stay above that. That is the best policy, rather than get involved in all the politics.
“We are quite confident in what we do, which is safe, and of no danger to the public,” he said.
Yeo, in his remarks, then said that while the SCI has not made up its mind over the quarry’s connection to the landslide tragedy, at this stage, the commission has found no connection between the quarry and the incident.
In the incident at the Lengkok Lembah Permai project site last October, a landslide resulted in the collapse of a retaining wall on the construction site and buried 11 workers.
The deceased comprised a local man, five Bangladeshis, two Indonesians, two Myanmars and a Pakistani.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, speculation arose as to whether the quarry activities had in some way contributed to the landslide.
The inquiry resumes tomorrow with a site visit to the affected area in Tanjung Bungah.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had previously said the inquiry will follow the same format as those set up for the Menara Umno, Jalan Macalister building antennae collapse and the Second Penang Bridge ramp collapse in 2013, that claimed the lives of three people.